How and where can I research Price/Performance ratio?

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xCxStylex

xCxStylex

Senior member
Apr 6, 2003
710
0
0
I built myself a socket 939 system in early 2006, so I need a new CPU/MB/RAM.

My current video card is a Radeon x1950 pro, and it's stifled by my Athlon 64 3700+

Aside from polling suggestions from the community here, I'd like to both be able to learn how to research price/performance ratio and also ask for suggestions.

I'm looking to spend $100-150 on the processor, and I've always been an AMD fan since my first K6 233. In terms of MB and RAM, I'll probably just buy some crap because I'm cheap. The $50-100 difference in squeezing performance from a good MB/RAM isn't worth the extra cost.

Based on the flashy and pretty numbers alone, this looks pretty good.

Any suggestions please?

And anyone able to teach me how to research price/performance?
 
cubeless

cubeless

Diamond Member
Sep 17, 2001
4,295
1
81
i'll bite...

there is some scaling work over on tomshardware...

but the easy answer for u is get an e7200 and a ip35 or maybe the new 45 chipset ( i think newegg has a deal on this combo) and spring for the couple extra bux for some 1066 memory (lots on sale with rebate at ne)...

this combo can oc to 3.2+ with the stock hsf usually, more with better cooling...

the performance of the 3mb cache chips is noticeably better than the 1mb (e2xxx) chips and the e7200 is only a little more bux than the 2mb (e4xxx) chips...

amd can't compete right now if you oc... and anyone can oc these days with the intel chips... if u don't oc then amd is competetive at most price points...

and the lesson? at the same clock speeds, 1mb cache chips perform 5ish% worse than 2mb cache chips, which perform 3ish% worse than 3mb cache chips, which perform 2ish% worse than 4mb cache chips (e6xxx) (6mb cache chips (e8xxx) are out of your price range)... this is average over a bunch of apps from what i have seen... games with heavy ai seem to like more cache, as do database pgms...

it is worth buying a mobo that will allow you to oc if u go intel, because u can get 25% or more performance with oc'ing in most cases... this will absolutely improve framerates with current games... an e7200 @ 3.2ghz will suck every possible frame out of your 1950, and will be a reasonable match for a nice new 4850 if u still want some amd in your system...
 
I

imported_Woody

Senior member
Aug 29, 2004
294
0
0
Originally posted by: xCxStylexBased on the flashy and pretty numbers alone, this looks pretty good.

Any suggestions please?
Click to expand...

Pretty much what the last poster said. The E7200 Core 2 Duo by Intel is going to give you the best price/performance in that price range. It will outperform the X2 by a significant amount for the same cost. If you do insist on sticking with AMD, get yourself one of their late model Phenom processors. The X2 is old tech now. But the Intel chip will be a better value in any case.

Either way you'll need to upgrade your motherboard and RAM. If you are looking for low cost options in this area an Intel P35 chipset based motherboard is probably your lowest cost option and they still perform well enough to meet the needs of a hardcore overclocker. Just find a good name brand with a good price. DDR2-1066 isn't really necessary and you can get pretty much the best price performance from DDR2-800 which is so cheap these days it seems criminal to buy it.

If you like gaming you can upgrade your graphics card to a newer AMD (formerly ATi and keeping your rig loyal to AMD if you like) model like the recently released 4850 for well under $200 and you will end up with a high end gaming system that will play any game out there at very high quality settings and high resolutions while spending for a dirt cheap build.

As far as researching this all your self. This website provides some excellent articles you can browse as well as reading these forums. Google searches will reveal some good articles, comparisons, and reviews also.
 
cubeless

cubeless

Diamond Member
Sep 17, 2001
4,295
1
81
H

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0
Originally posted by: xCxStylex
I built myself a socket 939 system in early 2006, so I need a new CPU/MB/RAM.

My current video card is a Radeon x1950 pro, and it's stifled by my Athlon 64 3700+

Aside from polling suggestions from the community here, I'd like to both be able to learn how to research price/performance ratio and also ask for suggestions.

I'm looking to spend $100-150 on the processor, and I've always been an AMD fan since my first K6 233. In terms of MB and RAM, I'll probably just buy some crap because I'm cheap. The $50-100 difference in squeezing performance from a good MB/RAM isn't worth the extra cost.

Based on the flashy and pretty numbers alone, this looks pretty good.

Any suggestions please?

And anyone able to teach me how to research price/performance?
Click to expand...

AMD X2 5400+ Brisbane 2.8GHz 65W: $87

3GHz+ on stock volts & retail HSF - up to 3.2GHz with retail HSF and 1.375-1.4v

Temps shoot up + 3.2GHz and you would need some fancy cooling ...
 
cubeless

cubeless

Diamond Member
Sep 17, 2001
4,295
1
81
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: xCxStylex
I built myself a socket 939 system in early 2006, so I need a new CPU/MB/RAM.

My current video card is a Radeon x1950 pro, and it's stifled by my Athlon 64 3700+

Aside from polling suggestions from the community here, I'd like to both be able to learn how to research price/performance ratio and also ask for suggestions.

I'm looking to spend $100-150 on the processor, and I've always been an AMD fan since my first K6 233. In terms of MB and RAM, I'll probably just buy some crap because I'm cheap. The $50-100 difference in squeezing performance from a good MB/RAM isn't worth the extra cost.

Based on the flashy and pretty numbers alone, this looks pretty good.

Any suggestions please?

And anyone able to teach me how to research price/performance?
Click to expand...

AMD X2 5400+ Brisbane 2.8GHz 65W: $87

3GHz+ on stock volts & retail HSF - up to 3.2GHz with retail HSF and 1.375-1.4v

Temps shoot up + 3.2GHz and you would need some fancy cooling ...
Click to expand...

but a 2180 deal from frys for $80 will wipe the floor with the x2 by oc'ing from 2.0 to 2.6... and it will give you an upgrade path to a q6600... i'm an old amd kind of guy, but i just can't give them my hard earned cashola right now - the intel chips are just too good...

 
I

imported_Woody

Senior member
Aug 29, 2004
294
0
0
I agree, spending good money to build up an X2 system from scratch is a waste. I can see dropping in a chip to an existing system but a new build? Don't waste your time and money on old tech.
 
cubeless

cubeless

Diamond Member
Sep 17, 2001
4,295
1
81
even dropping a new chip into an existing 939 box is a losing prop... amd really screwed us 939ers... i can buy a whole new, better performing intel system for what a 939 upgrade costs...
 
RallyMaster

RallyMaster

Diamond Member
Dec 28, 2004
5,581
0
0
Originally posted by: cubeless
even dropping a new chip into an existing 939 box is a losing prop... amd really screwed us 939ers... i can buy a whole new, better performing intel system for what a 939 upgrade costs...
Click to expand...

There is much truth in this statement. However, single core Opterons are still good for running mainstream apps. Once you get into anything intensive though...Socket 939 starts to show its age.
 
cubeless

cubeless

Diamond Member
Sep 17, 2001
4,295
1
81
Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Originally posted by: cubeless
even dropping a new chip into an existing 939 box is a losing prop... amd really screwed us 939ers... i can buy a whole new, better performing intel system for what a 939 upgrade costs...
Click to expand...

There is much truth in this statement. However, single core Opterons are still good for running mainstream apps. Once you get into anything intensive though...Socket 939 starts to show its age.
Click to expand...


i had to bail out on single core when supreme commander came out... a 2.5ghz x2 killed a 3.0ghz a64... i just wish i had bought a couple dual core optys when they were on sale back when... '"i'll just wait, they'll still be around" i said to myself... now my poor x23800's @2.6 just can't play anymore... so they will become wife and daughter pc's... with 3+ghz they'd still be contenders, ddr and all...
 
xCxStylex

xCxStylex

Senior member
Apr 6, 2003
710
0
0
Thank you very much for your recommendations, I guess I'll wait/hunt around for an E7200, cheap mb, and ram :)


Originally posted by: cubeless
even dropping a new chip into an existing 939 box is a losing prop... amd really screwed us 939ers... i can buy a whole new, better performing intel system for what a 939 upgrade costs...
Click to expand...

Tell me about it :X

I researched socket 939 cpus and the fastest I can get is a dual core 4800+ x2 but that literally costs $1000 :Q

It feels like trying to buy RDRam again back when it got phased out :p
 
H

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0
Originally posted by: cubeless
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: xCxStylex
I built myself a socket 939 system in early 2006, so I need a new CPU/MB/RAM.

My current video card is a Radeon x1950 pro, and it's stifled by my Athlon 64 3700+

Aside from polling suggestions from the community here, I'd like to both be able to learn how to research price/performance ratio and also ask for suggestions.

I'm looking to spend $100-150 on the processor, and I've always been an AMD fan since my first K6 233. In terms of MB and RAM, I'll probably just buy some crap because I'm cheap. The $50-100 difference in squeezing performance from a good MB/RAM isn't worth the extra cost.

Based on the flashy and pretty numbers alone, this looks pretty good.

Any suggestions please?

And anyone able to teach me how to research price/performance?
Click to expand...

AMD X2 5400+ Brisbane 2.8GHz 65W: $87

3GHz+ on stock volts & retail HSF - up to 3.2GHz with retail HSF and 1.375-1.4v

Temps shoot up + 3.2GHz and you would need some fancy cooling ...
Click to expand...

but a 2180 deal from frys for $80 will wipe the floor with the x2 by oc'ing from 2.0 to 2.6... and it will give you an upgrade path to a q6600... i'm an old amd kind of guy, but i just can't give them my hard earned cashola right now - the intel chips are just too good...
Click to expand...

Perhaps you would like to back up your claim that an e2160 at 2.6GHz would 'wipe the floor' with an X2 5400+ at 3.2GHz ?

More facts - less FUD, please.
 
Markfw

Markfw

Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
May 16, 2002
27,277
16,121
136
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: cubeless
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: xCxStylex
I built myself a socket 939 system in early 2006, so I need a new CPU/MB/RAM.

My current video card is a Radeon x1950 pro, and it's stifled by my Athlon 64 3700+

Aside from polling suggestions from the community here, I'd like to both be able to learn how to research price/performance ratio and also ask for suggestions.

I'm looking to spend $100-150 on the processor, and I've always been an AMD fan since my first K6 233. In terms of MB and RAM, I'll probably just buy some crap because I'm cheap. The $50-100 difference in squeezing performance from a good MB/RAM isn't worth the extra cost.

Based on the flashy and pretty numbers alone, this looks pretty good.

Any suggestions please?

And anyone able to teach me how to research price/performance?
Click to expand...

AMD X2 5400+ Brisbane 2.8GHz 65W: $87

3GHz+ on stock volts & retail HSF - up to 3.2GHz with retail HSF and 1.375-1.4v

Temps shoot up + 3.2GHz and you would need some fancy cooling ...
Click to expand...

but a 2180 deal from frys for $80 will wipe the floor with the x2 by oc'ing from 2.0 to 2.6... and it will give you an upgrade path to a q6600... i'm an old amd kind of guy, but i just can't give them my hard earned cashola right now - the intel chips are just too good...
Click to expand...

Perhaps you would like to back up your claim that an e2160 at 2.6GHz would 'wipe the floor' with an X2 5400+ at 3.2GHz ?

More facts - less FUD, please.
Click to expand...

In a lot of cases, the C2D is 30% faster than an X2 from my own personal experience. That would make it like a 3.38 X2, so I don't think its total fud..

BUT the 2180 doesn't have the cache of the chips I use, and specific games can be different, so I certainly can;t argue that it will wipe the floor, but its in the ballpark, and probably beats it.
 
J

JimiP

Senior member
May 6, 2007
258
0
71
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: cubeless
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: xCxStylex
I built myself a socket 939 system in early 2006, so I need a new CPU/MB/RAM.

My current video card is a Radeon x1950 pro, and it's stifled by my Athlon 64 3700+

Aside from polling suggestions from the community here, I'd like to both be able to learn how to research price/performance ratio and also ask for suggestions.

I'm looking to spend $100-150 on the processor, and I've always been an AMD fan since my first K6 233. In terms of MB and RAM, I'll probably just buy some crap because I'm cheap. The $50-100 difference in squeezing performance from a good MB/RAM isn't worth the extra cost.

Based on the flashy and pretty numbers alone, this looks pretty good.

Any suggestions please?

And anyone able to teach me how to research price/performance?
Click to expand...

AMD X2 5400+ Brisbane 2.8GHz 65W: $87

3GHz+ on stock volts & retail HSF - up to 3.2GHz with retail HSF and 1.375-1.4v

Temps shoot up + 3.2GHz and you would need some fancy cooling ...
Click to expand...

but a 2180 deal from frys for $80 will wipe the floor with the x2 by oc'ing from 2.0 to 2.6... and it will give you an upgrade path to a q6600... i'm an old amd kind of guy, but i just can't give them my hard earned cashola right now - the intel chips are just too good...
Click to expand...

Perhaps you would like to back up your claim that an e2160 at 2.6GHz would 'wipe the floor' with an X2 5400+ at 3.2GHz ?

More facts - less FUD, please.
Click to expand...

I believe he said an E2180 @ 2.6GHz will beat an 5400+ X2 @ it's stock speed (2.8GHz). Which, I can't argue with that at all.
 
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